Day 16 - Pauses for Lent - World

3/23/2019

World

The world is smaller than it has ever been. In an instant, we can know what’s happening on the far side of the globe. You can maintain close connections with friends 2 blocks or 2 continents away. Our kids can follow every move of their favorite celebrity’s life on Instagram.

And that means we can see the darkness and violence of the world in real time. When a white supremacist attacks a mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, we know. When ebola emerges in Congo, we know. When a political operative cheats to win an election in North Carolina, we know. When food shortages lead to hunger in Venezuela, we know.

The overwhelming deluge of information threatens to numb us to the pain across our planet. Who are we to dare think we could impact the darkness in a far corner of the world? And yet Jesus tells us that the world is our responsibility. Because our God sent Jesus to save the world—all of it. Every corner. Every life. Every place.

When Jesus says “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5.14) he names the truth that our burden is not just for what is local and easy. Our burden is for God’s light to reach the entire world.

Today, take a moment to read the news. Feel the burden of God’s world. Then pray that God’s light would reach every dark corner of the world.

The Mississippi Annual Conference—empowered by love, generosity, justice and apprenticeship—forms spiritual leaders, faith communities and connections so more disciples of Jesus Christ transform the world.